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BEGINS IN: ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

On the Road in Northern New Mexico: The Best of Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Day Two: Monday, May 12 - Field Trip to Pecos National Historical Park/Trav...

Field Trip to Pecos National Historical Park/Travel to Santa Fe/Visit State Capitol Building Art Collection/Presentation by Native American Award-Winning Musician

Note: Walking up to one mile over paved and packed dirt terrain during course of the day

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel and hotel check-out no later than 8:00 AM

Morning: From 8:00 until 10:15 AM, there will be a class about the history of New Mexico. Our bus then departs for Pecos, NM at 10:30 AM.

Lunch: Lunch at Frankie's southwestern grill in Pecos

Afternoon: After lunch, we'll explore beautiful Pecos National Historical Park, an example of late Anasazi pueblo ruins and Spanish colonization.

The site, on ranch land (the Forked Lightning Ranch) owned by the late Greer Garson and her husband, Buddy Fogelson, was donated with the hope that it would be preserved for visitors. The museum/visitors' center features a film narrated by Ms. Garson. A mile-long, paved hiking trail circles the site, which has remains of pueblo dwellings, kivas and a mission church, all located on remarkably beautiful land in the Pecos valley 30 miles northeast of Santa Fe.

Our bus will depart for Santa Fe at 3:30, ariving at the hotel at about 4:00.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel from 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Evening: Lecture and performance from 7:00 - 8:00 PM, taught by Native American professional musician and scholar, Ronald Roybal. Ron is an award-winning musician dedicated to the preservation of traditional Native American music as well as being a composer of some of his own. He's a fine singer, guitarist and Native American flute player.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Day Three: Tuesday, May 13 - State Capitol/Museum of International Folk Art/Mu...

State Capitol/Museum of International Folk Art/Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Dinner on Our Own and Evening at Leisure

Note: Walking up to one mile over the course of the day over paved terrain. Standing up to 30 minutes at a time at museums, with opportunities to sit.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Following breakfast, we'll hear about the history of Santa Fe. We'll then depart for visits to the State Capitol building, the Museum of International Folk Art, and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.

The MIAC offers a huge collection of pottery, basketry, rugs, jewelry and artifacts, mostly from tribes of the southwest region. The exhibits are beautifully displayed and documented.

The Museum of International Folk Art features the huge collection of folk art of Alexander Girard, displayed in charming scenarios.

Both museums have great gift shops as well!

Lunch: Lunch at a selected restaurant

Afternoon: After lunch we'll embark on a walking excursion in the Plaza area, followed by an afternoon and evening at leisure. Nearby sites of interest include the Palace of the Governors, the New Mexico Museum of Art, and the New Mexico History Museum. (Passes provided for these state museums.)

Our bus will return to the hotel at 5:00 PM. Those who wish may remain downtown, returning to the hotel via taxi or city bus on their own (schedules available at hotel front desk).

Dinner: Dinner on our own tonight. The group leader can offer restaurant suggestions both downtown and near the hotel.

Evening: Evening at leisure for more time in Santa Fe or rest and relaxation

Description: The hotel is located just on the outskirts of downtown Taos; the historic Plaza is just a few miles away. Associated with the Sagebrush Inn and Conference Center, the facility has pretty grounds and landscaping around it and lots of areas to explore.

Note: Walking up to two miles over the course of the day over packed dirt and paved terrain. Standing for up to thirty minutes at a time during site visits.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel between 7:00 - 8:30 AM; hotel check-out no later than 8:30 AM

Morning: This morning we'll depart for Taos, with stops along the way.

Our first stop is at Santa Clara Pueblo, where we'll visit the pottery studio of Paul and Rosalda Speckled Rock.

Santa Clara is one of the most popular pueblos for visitors. Its tribal members are among the most artistically active of all the pueblos, and fine works by Santa Clara artists can be found in a large number of shops and studios in the village.

Santa Clara ancestors most likely migrated south from the Four Corners region, eventually reaching the Pajarito Plateau on the eastern slope of the Jemez Mountains between A.D. 1100 and 1300. Today, Santa Clara is home to about 2600 people. The tribe's 47,000 acres still supports some farming. A small casino and bowling center in Espanola should help fund additional tribal endeavors.

Our bus departs for Taos at 10:30 AM; there will be a rest stop along the way.

Lunch: Lunch at the Trading Post Cafe in Taos

Afternoon: After lunch, we'll go to San Francisco de Asís mission church for a photo opportunity, followed by a visit to the Martinez Hacienda, an example of a Spanish/Mexican Hacienda with many outbuildings, all representing the Spanish Colonial era.

Description: The hotel is located just on the outskirts of downtown Taos; the historic Plaza is just a few miles away. Associated with the Sagebrush Inn and Conference Center, the facility has pretty grounds and landscaping around it and lots of areas to explore.

Note: Walking up to two miles over the course of the day over paved and packed dirt terrain. Standing for up to 30 minutes at a time (with some opportunities to sit) at museums and at Taos Pueblo.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel from 7:00 - 8:00 AM

Morning: Pick up boxed lunches before departing at 8:30 AM for a trip to Taos Pueblo (if it's open to visitors--it closes for funerals, special pueblo meetings, etc., and we don't always know in advance).

After the Pueblo, the bus will travel to the Millicent Rogers Museum. Here, visitors enjoy many outstanding historical collections of Native American art and jewelry, contemporary paintings, weavings, and pottery, including the Maria Martinez family collection. Also showcased are Hispanic textiles, metal work, and sculpture, as well as a wide range of contemporary Anglo-European southwestern art.

The bus then departs for the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, locally known as the "High Bridge." This is a cantilever truss bridge across the Rio Grande Gorge 10 miles northwest of Taos. At 650 feet above the Rio Grande, it is the fifth highest bridge in the United States.

Lunch: Boxed lunch at the picnic area at Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

Afternoon: Bus departs at 1:00 PM for downtown Taos, where we'll visit the Ernest Blumenschein Home and Museum. This was the home of painter Ernest L. Blumenschein, a co-founder of the Taos Art Colony and one of the "Famous Seven." It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

From 3:30 - 5:15 PM, there will be free time to explore the Plaza and Bent Street areas on our own. There are a number of colorful galleries and shops in this area, as well as other museums, all within walking distance of Taos Plaza.

Note: Walking up to two miles over the course of the day over paved or packed dirt terrain. Standing up to 1 hour at museums with opportunities to sit).

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel from 7:00 - 8:00 AM and hotel check-out

Morning: Bus departs at 8:15 AM by way of the "High Road" for the northern New Mexico village of Chimayó. This Hispanic village is much as it has been over the last two hundred years.

We'll visit the Santuario de Chimayó, famous for the reputed healing powers of the earth found inside. The Santuario also offers some remarkable folk art, from its beautiful retablos, stations of the cross, and bultos (statues of the saints). This little church is a very special one with a fascinating history; it's a great example of the simple faith of northern New Mexicans.

We'll also visit a weaving gallery where we can see examples of beautiful Hispanic weavings. Local families in Chimayó have been creating these works of art for centuries.

Lunch: Lunch at Rancho de Chimayó

Afternoon: After lunch, our bus continues on to Albuquerque.

We'll gain an overview of the geological aspects surrounding the city, as well as learn some interesting facts about its history.

Upon arrival in Albuquerque, at about 2:45 PM, we'll visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Pueblo culture and advancing understanding by presenting with dignity and respect, the accomplishments and evolving history of the Pueblo people of New Mexico.

We'll then go to Old Town Albuquerque. This charming area offers many examples of authentic adobe architecture; the beautiful old church there is open to visitors, and we'll explore Old Town with our group leader's guidance.

Note: Walking up to two miles over paved or uneven packed dirt terrain over course of the day. Standing for 15-30 minutes at a time during guide lectures when visiting Petroglyphs and Pueblo.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: After a discussion about the history of Albuquerque, our bus departs for Boca Negra Petroglyphs (ranger lecture at 10:00 AM). This area features a wide expanse of fragile, unique cultural resources that can never be replaced and are part of the National Park system.
Four to seven centuries ago, the Rio Grande's Pueblo people carved or painted images into the boulders along the 17-mile long section known as the West Mesa.

As we listen to the ranger and walk some of the trails, we'll speculate what these images mean, why they were created and what the people who made them were like.

Depart at 11:30 AM for Acoma Pueblo.

Lunch: Lunch at the Y'aak'a Café from 12:45 - 1:45 PM at the Sky City Cultural Center at Acoma Pueblo

Afternoon: After lunch, we'll have a chance to see the pueblo's visitors' center prior to exploring, with a Native American guide, the mesa top where the ancient part of Acoma Pueblo is located.

Acoma Pueblo, known as "Sky City," was settled possibly as early as A.D. 900. It is situated on top of a 376 foot high sandstone bluff.

We'll learn about the Spanish conquistadors who occupied it in 1599, the filmmakers who helped build the road that goes to the top of the mesa, and the 6,000 residents who today either live in two nearby villages or in the Pueblo itself.

We'll walk through the ancient village, see the large mission church and meet some of the pueblo residents during our field trip.

Bus departs for Albuquerque at 4:30 PM, arriving at the hotel by 6:00 PM.

The hotel has a free shuttle to take you to the airport or train station; arrange with the front desk the evening before, if possible.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel from 7:00 to 9:00 AM. Checkout time is no later than 12:00 noon.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities

Santa Fe, NM

General OverviewMuseums and galleries, e.g., Palace of the Governors Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, Museum of International Folk Art, Museum of Indian Art and Culture, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, Spanish Colonial Museum, Laboratory of Anthropology, Rancho de los Golondrinas (recreation of a Spanish Colonial village), Gerald Peters Gallery, Nedra Matteucchi (Fenn) Gallery, Alan Houser Sculpture Garden, Houshang's Gallery, Alene Lapides Gallery, Laurel Seth Gallery and many more. Historic buildings and churches include Sena Plaza, El Santuario de Guadalupe, the Oldest House, San Miguel Mission, St. Francis Cathedral, the Chapel of Loretto (with its miraculous staircase!) and Cristo Rey Church. During late June, July and August, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale and Santa Fe Opera are in full swing and there are many theatre productions and concerts going on in the city year round. The Santa Fe Visitors' Guide provides seasonal listings of events, as does New Mexico Magazine. A link to Santa Fe's calendar of events, web sites and telephone numbers is listed below.For additional information, visit: www.santafe.org

Taos, NM

General OverviewWhile in Taos, you will have some time to explore the Plaza area and Bent Street area, where many galleries and shops are located.

Important information about your itinerary: Please know that while we do everything we can to finalize all aspects of our programs well in advance, there are logistics that occasionally must be altered. Our website will reflect the most recent information, and we are committed to providing you with final program details no later than eight weeks prior to the start of programs outside the U.S. and three weeks prior to the start of programs within the U.S. If you ever have questions about your program, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Need Help?

The latest in light, portable, easy-to-use QUIETVOX listening devices are available on Road Scholar programs.* Whether you are outdoors, in a crowd or in a museum environment where speaking loudly is discouraged, a listening device makes it feel like our experts are speaking clearly and directly to you. Hear for yourself on a Road Scholar adventure!

*Please note that due to the nature of some programs, the remote location or government regulations, listening devices may not be available. If you’d like to know for sure if your program will offer listening devices, just call and ask an Advisor!